The key to victory and a playoff berth is team play, coach Mark Grindrod says.

Above all else, team unity will be the key for the Bainbridge varsity girls soccer squad as it prepares for a second straight trip to the state tournament in the 2006 prep season.

“Last year was by far the best year I’ve ever had,” head coach Mark Grindrod said of his team’s 11-3-3 record and their second state tournament win in school history. “And it was the team. Player-wise, they weren’t better than teams gone by, but they just jelled so well that it made such a big difference.”

This year’s captains, defender Alana MacWhorter, forward Allie Picha and goalkeeper Jackie Danzig, all seniors, will be the ones that Grindrod leans on to lead the team.

“The captains took charge over the summer, reminding everyone to get their runs in so they came in shape,” Grindrod said. “Halfway through the summer, I had to call the captains and wake up the players, because they weren’t making too many practices.

“(But) they had such a successful season last year on and off the field, that they continued that into the summer. They’re really feeling good about themselves and the team. You take away those cliques and the team jells together. It’s easier for them to practice.”

The Spartans come into the season with a few minor injuries, a far cry from last year when many players were down and out.

“By this time (last year), I think I was practicing six kids,” Grindrod said. “My strategy of talking them hard this summer and having them come into tryouts (in) a little bit better shape worked.”

The Spartans will be without junior midfielder Hannah Oshin, who tore her ACL in the spring and had surgery a month ago. She will remain with the team as a manager.

Her presence will be missed on the front line, but Picha and junior Zena Hemmen will be the ones to take control of the offense, while junior Maureen Callahan, senior Molly Oshin and sophomore Ashley Waplinger will be called on to fill the midfield spots vacated by last year’s captains and four- year varsity starters Jenine Adam and Lindsay Lund, who graduated.

MacWhorter and junior Lindsey Montoya will be the standouts on defense while Danzig and Callie Tift will work together in the box.

The midfield will be a concern, as Grindrod hopes the trio can make up for the loss of the communication skills and experience that Adam and Lund brought to the team.

“The biggest thing is we need the midfield to jell with the defense and offense,” he said. “I’m looking for Molly to step up to the role of the ‘talker’ and Ashley is going to have the vision, and hopefully we can work off of that.”

They’ll need that communication and a powerful offense – Picha and Hemmen had 15 goals combined last season – to compete in the Metro League, especially with their rival, five-time state champion Lakeside, residing in their division.

Bainbridge beat the Lions for the first time last year, and Grindrod knows they’ll have to go through them again in order to make it back to State.

“As long as we stay healthy, I think we’ve got a good chance,” he said. “If I can keep the defense happy and healthy, then the offense can get some goals.”

Bainbridge opened the season yesterday at North Kitsap. They play Sequim at home this Saturday at 2 p.m.